Group Slams El-Rufai for Criticizing Tinubu, Labels Him Bitter and Selfish

 A pro-Tinubu group, the Renewed Hope Advocates, has fiercely criticized former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, branding him “bitter and selfish” for his recent attacks on President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

El-Rufai, now a prominent figure in the Social Democratic Party (SDP) after leaving the APC, has accused Tinubu of poor governance and failing to address Nigeria’s 2,500 annual insecurity-related deaths. The group, in a statement on June 24, argued that El-Rufai’s criticisms stem from personal grievances over his rejection as a ministerial nominee in 2023, despite initially supporting Tinubu in the APC primaries.

The Advocates claimed El-Rufai’s defection to the SDP and alignment with an anti-Tinubu coalition reflect a quest for personal relevance rather than genuine concern for Nigerians. They highlighted his tenure as Kaduna governor, citing unresolved communal clashes that killed 1,000 in 2022, as evidence of his own governance failures. The group praised Tinubu’s initiatives, like the $400 million Nasarawa minerals plant, as proof of his commitment to economic growth, projecting 5,000 jobs by 2027.

El-Rufai’s rift with Tinubu deepened after his Senate rejection, which Ndume noted was nearly avoided due to El-Rufai’s strong credentials. The feud underscores APC’s internal divisions, with analysts warning it could weaken the party’s unity ahead of the 2027 elections.